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The Gospels · New Testament

Matthew 19

Matthew 19: divorce, little children, the rich young man, and the first made last

General context

Jesus leaves Galilee for the coasts of Judea beyond Jordan and heals great multitudes. Pharisees ask, tempting him, whether a man may put away his wife for every cause. He answers from the beginning: the maker made them male and female, a man cleaves to his wife and the two are one flesh, and what God has joined man should not put asunder. They ask why Moses commanded a writing of divorcement; he says Moses suffered it because of hardness of heart, and that whoever puts away his wife, except for fornication, and marries another commits adultery. The disciples say it is then not good to marry, and Jesus speaks of eunuchs by birth, by men, and for the kingdom's sake. Little children are brought that he should put his hands on them and pray, and the disciples rebuke them, but Jesus says to let them come, for of such is the kingdom, and lays hands on them. A man asks what good thing he must do for eternal life; Jesus says to keep the commandments and lists them, the young man says he has kept them, and Jesus tells him to sell what he has, give to the poor and follow him. He goes away sorrowful because of his possessions. Jesus says a rich man will hardly enter the kingdom and it is easier for a camel to pass through a needle's eye; the disciples ask who can be saved, and he says with God all things are possible. Peter asks what they will have who forsook all; Jesus promises twelve thrones, a hundredfold, and everlasting life, and says many first will be last and the last first.

Cited passages: Matthew 19:1, Matthew 19:2, Matthew 19:3, Matthew 19:4, Matthew 19:6, Matthew 19:7, Matthew 19:8, Matthew 19:9, Matthew 19:10, Matthew 19:12, Matthew 19:13, Matthew 19:14, Matthew 19:16, Matthew 19:17, Matthew 19:20, Matthew 19:21, Matthew 19:22, Matthew 19:24, Matthew 19:25, Matthew 19:26, Matthew 19:27, Matthew 19:28, Matthew 19:29, Matthew 19:30

Matthew 19 (KJV)

1And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these sayings, he departed from Galilee, and came into the coasts of Judaea beyond Jordan;

2And great multitudes followed him; and he healed them there.

3The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?

4And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,

5And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?

6Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

7They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?

8He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.

9And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.

10His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry.

11But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given.

12For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother’s womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.

13Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them.

14But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.

15And he laid his hands on them, and departed thence.

16And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?

17And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.

18He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,

19Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

20The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?

21Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.

22But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.

23Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.

24And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

25When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?

26But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

27Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?

28And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

29And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.

30But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.

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Historical context

The narrator marks the move from Galilee to the coasts of Judea beyond Jordan with a phrase the narrator uses after other discourses as well, when Jesus had finished these sayings. The Pharisees' question is described by the narrator as tempting. Jesus quotes the making of male and female and the one flesh saying as what he which made them said, and treats the writing of divorcement as something Moses suffered rather than commanded. The exception clause, except it be for fornication, is stated here and also in chapter 5, and the text does not define the word further. The saying about eunuchs is left with the instruction that whoever can receive it should. The man who asks about eternal life is unnamed; the narrator calls him the young man and says he had great possessions, and nothing else about him is given. Jesus' list of commandments includes love of neighbour alongside commandments from the ten. Peter's question receives a promise of twelve thrones for the twelve tribes, and the chapter's last line is repeated and reversed at the end of the vineyard parable in chapter 20.

Cited passages: Matthew 19:1, Matthew 19:3, Matthew 19:5, Matthew 19:8, Matthew 19:9, Matthew 5:32, Matthew 19:12, Matthew 19:20, Matthew 19:22, Matthew 19:19, Matthew 19:28, Matthew 19:30, Matthew 20:16, Matthew 26:1

Literary context

The chapter is a series of question-and-answer exchanges, with the questioner changing each time: Pharisees, disciples, an unnamed man, disciples again, Peter. In the divorce exchange Jesus appeals to the beginning against a later concession, and the disciples' reaction turns a legal question into a question about marrying at all. The children scene reverses the disciples' rebuke with a welcome, and connects to chapter 18's teaching that the kingdom belongs to those who become as little children. The rich young man's story is told through his own words, what lack I yet, and his silent departure; the narrator gives the reason in a single clause. Jesus' camel saying is answered by amazement, and Peter's question about reward is answered with promises and then a warning that reverses order, which the following parable takes up as its closing line.

Cited passages: Matthew 19:8, Matthew 19:10, Matthew 19:14, Matthew 18:3, Matthew 19:20, Matthew 19:22, Matthew 19:25, Matthew 19:27, Matthew 19:30, Matthew 20:1

Key moments

  1. From the beginning (Matthew 19:4). Jesus answers the divorce question by citing the making of male and female.
  2. Except for fornication (Matthew 19:9). Jesus states that putting away a wife and marrying another is adultery, with one exception.
  3. Suffer little children (Matthew 19:14). Jesus overrules the disciples and welcomes the children.
  4. What lack I yet? (Matthew 19:20). The young man says he has kept the commandments from his youth.
  5. He went away sorrowful (Matthew 19:22). Told to sell all and follow, the young man leaves because of his possessions.
  6. The camel and the needle (Matthew 19:24). Jesus says it is easier for a camel to pass a needle's eye than for a rich man to enter the kingdom.
  7. The first shall be last (Matthew 19:30). Jesus closes his answer to Peter with a reversal of order.

For reflection

The young man says he has kept the commandments and still asks what he lacks, then goes away sorrowful when told. What does the text let the reader see about the difference between asking a question and being ready for its answer?

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